Online Reporter
Manny Pacquiao confirmed he will face former junior welterweight world champion Ruslan Provodnikov in Las Vegas on April 18, marking his second outing since returning from a four‑year retirement last year.
The 47-year-old last fought in July, when he ended a long hiatus with a majority draw against WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios.
“I carry the Philippines with me every time I fight. The support from my country and from fans around the world continues to inspire me,” Pacquiao said in a statement issued by Indistry Media and Banner Promotions on Wednesday.
“Returning to Las Vegas means so much to me, and I’m excited to work with a team focused on creating a world-class experience for the fans. I’m coming back to give them a great fight – and I’m ready.”
Pacquiao initially retired in 2021 before resuming his career last year. Away from the ring, he served in the Philippine Senate from 2016 to 2022 and mounted an unsuccessful presidential bid in 2022.
The eight-division world champion — the first boxer to achieve that feat — also became the oldest welterweight world champion at age 40 in 2019. His professional record stands at 62 wins, eight losses and three draws from 73 fights.
He was elected to the International Boxing Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2025.
Meanwhile, WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman has defended Ryan Garcia’s controversial world title shot and Conor Benn’s No1 ranking.
Benn – coming off two middleweight mega-fights – was placed as the next in line for the WBC’s 147lb belt despite not boxing at the weight for THREE YEARS.
And Garcia walks into his second consecutive welterweight world title crack despite never winning a bout in the division.
Both were granted by the well-regarded WBC boss Sulaiman – who once expelled Garcia from the rankings due to his wild social media antics.
But after the popular American took measures to reform himself – following a one-year drugs ban – Sulaiman welcomed him back into the WBC frame.
“Ryan Garcia has a long history with the WBC,” Sulaiman told SunSport. “He was even WBC silver champion, interim champion.
“We have been together and very close to him through the social responsibility programs.
“He has had mental wellness issues, very tough ones before the fight with [Devin] Haney.
“We had a continuous exchange then everything went south and he had problems with social behavior and social media, addictions, that’s when the WBC expelled him from the WBC.
“But at all times we kept very close to him and his team offering him support and guidance, rehab.
“He complied with what is needed for him to be back in boxing. And the WBC believes in opportunities, and I’m very proud that he will be fighting for the WBC championship.”
Garcia, 27, blew his chance of challenging for the WBC’s 140lb title after weighing-in 3lb overweight against Haney, 27, having admitted to partying and drinking in the build-up.
He initially won the Brooklyn bout but it was overturned to a no-contest after Garcia tested positive for ostarine – known to build muscle mass.
Garcia did pass tests in the lead-up to the fight and protested his innocence – with the positive samples taken the day before and of bout.
He accepted a one-year suspension and returned in a WBA title fight against Rolly Romero, 30, last May which he lost on points.
But he gets an immediate second crack against WBC champ Barrios, 30, on Saturday in Las Vegas – live on DAZN PPV.
And Britain’s Benn will be ringside at the T-Mobile Arena having been placed No1 in the WBC’s rankings.
That is despite not boxing at welterweight since his April 2022 knockout of South African Chris van Heerden, 38.
Benn, 29, moved up to middleweight last April in defeat to Chris Eubank Jr, 36, before winning their November rematch.
The two were first due to fight in 2022 but Benn tested positive for banned testosterone booster clomiphene.
He too protested his innocence but unlike Garcia fought the case against UK Anti-Doping and the British Boxing Board of Control – who banned Benn – Sun/Reuters.
Mathew Masinge